Heat source pad and method of using a heat source

ABSTRACT

A heat source pad, a heat source, and a method of using a heat source are provided. The heat source pad includes a first portion configured to be positioned on a first side of a barrel of a heat source, a second portion configured to be positioned on a second side of the barrel of the heat source, an outer surface being configured to contact a heat source user, and an inner surface being configured to couple to an outer surface of the barrel of the heat source such that the heat source user holds the barrel of the heat source through contact with the outer surface.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/230,796 filed Jun. 12, 2015, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a tool pad and, more specifically, to a heat source pad.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various types of films and sheet materials are used in the vehicle wrap industry, the automotive paint protection industry, automotive, residential, and commercial tint industries, home décor industry, and several other automotive, sign, and graphics industries. Such films and sheet materials include pressure activated and pressure sensitive adhesive sheet materials as useful and/or decorative coverings of the surfaces of vehicles, indoor and outdoor walls and floors, and many additional textured, smooth, even, or uneven surfaces.

Many sheet materials require heat for installation or application onto a work surface or substrate. An installer may heat the sheet material by directing heat from a heat source, such as a heat gun, blow torch, or other heat-providing tool, toward the substrate. The installer should immediately work the sheet material onto the substrate with their hands or a separate tool after application of heat because many sheet materials cool quickly. For example, one sheet material cools at a rate of approximately 10 degrees per second. After several seconds, the sheet material may no longer be workable.

However, the heat source, particularly a barrel of the heat source, remains at an elevated temperature after application of heat on the sheet material. Therefore, the installer is limited to holding the heat source by a handle or another cooler portion of the heat source while attempting to work the sheet material onto the substrate.

Therefore, there exists a need for a heat source, a heat source pad, and a method of using a heat source that improves the ease with which a user of a heat source may apply heat to a sheet material.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat source pad is provided comprising a first portion configured to be positioned on a first side of a barrel of a heat source, a second portion configured to be positioned on a second side of the barrel of the heat source, an outer surface being configured to contact a heat source user, and an inner surface being configured to couple to an outer surface of the barrel of the heat source such that the heat source user holds the barrel of the heat source through contact with the outer surface.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat source for directing heat to a work surface is provided. The heat source comprises a handle, a barrel, an air intake through which air enters the barrel, a pad disposed on the barrel and spaced from the air intake.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using a heat source is provided. The method comprises providing a heat source having a handle, a barrel, and a pad on the barrel, gripping the handle of the heat source such that heat is directed by a user from the barrel toward a work surface, and positioning the barrel against a surface of the user such that the pad on the barrel contacts the surface of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a heat source pad in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a heat source in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a heat source in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a heat source in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the foregoing summary, the following is a detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, which are considered to be the best modes thereof. The methods and systems herein described are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a heat source pad 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The pad 10 includes a first portion 12, a second portion 14, an outer surface 16, and an inner surface 18 opposite the outer surface that is not visible in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the pad 10 includes a central portion 20 having a central portion width 22 less than a first portion width 24 and a second portion width 26. Although the pad 10 illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is configured as a strip or an hourglass shape, the pad 10 of other embodiments has a round, square, rectangular, triangular, or any other shape. Further, the pad 10 of an embodiment is configured as a loop or other structure, such as a structure contoured with or capable of being formed into a shape of a tool or heat source surface.

The pad 10 includes a material having a thermal conductivity between 0.005 and 2 watts per meter kelvin in particular embodiments at a temperature between 25 degrees and 225 degrees centigrade. In other embodiments, the pad 10 includes a material having a thermal conductivity between 0.015 and 1 watts per meter kelvin at a temperature between 25 degrees and 225 degrees centigrade. In other embodiments, the pad 10 includes a material having a thermal conductivity between 0.02 and 0.06 watts per meter kelvin at a temperature between 25 degrees and 225 degrees centigrade. In other embodiments, the pad 10 includes a material having a thermal conductivity less than 0.005 watts per meter kelvin or greater than 2 watts per meter kelvin at a temperature between 25 degrees and 225 degrees centigrade.

The pad 10 includes such non-limiting materials as plastic, such as polytetrafluoroethylene or nylon, elastomer such as rubber, one or more types of foam, silicon, composite, wood, metal, and/or leather materials.

The pad 10 in one embodiment is made only from an elastomer foam with an adhesive material on the inner surface 18.

The pad 10 includes a metal portion 28 in one embodiment. The pad 10 includes a formed metal strip as the metal portion 28 in an embodiment. The pad includes a foam encapsulated formed metal strip as the metal portion 28 in an embodiment. The metal portion 28 is resilient and/or compressible in one embodiment and configured to clamp or otherwise compress to attach to a heat source 30, such as a barrel 38 of a heat gun 34, described in further detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The pad 10 is C-shaped in an embodiment to at least partially surround the barrel 38 of the heat source 30. The metal portion 28 in one embodiment couples to the heat source 30 with the assistance of a fastener, an adhesive, or any other joining method or structure known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The metal portion 28 couples to the heat source 30 without the assistance of a fastener, an adhesive, or any other joining method or structure known to a person having ordinary skill in the art in an embodiment. The metal portion 28 further allows a user to couple the pad 10 and/or the heat source 30 having the pad 10 to a magnetic surface (not shown), thereby improving accessibility.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the heat source 30 for directing heat to a work surface is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The heat source 30 of one embodiment is the heat gun 34, such as the non-limiting example of the Dewalt Heat Gun Model No. D26950, the features of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The heat source 30 includes a handle 36 configured to be held or gripped by a user 40 during operation of the heat source 30, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The heat source 30 further includes a barrel 38 configured to be directed by the user 40 toward a work surface 42, such as a sheet material to be worked onto a substrate. The heat source 30 further includes an air intake 44 through which air enters the barrel 38. In an embodiment, the air is heated within the barrel 38 and exits the heat source 30 in the direction of the work surface 42 at an elevated temperature, such as between 50 and 800 degrees centigrade in one non-limiting example and between 75 and 200 degrees centigrade in another non-limiting example.

The heat source 30 includes the pad 10 disposed on the barrel 38 and spaced from the air intake 44. The air intake 44 of additional embodiments is positioned at any other location of the heat source 30 and is not limited to the location illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The first portion 12 is configured to be positioned on a first side 46 of the barrel 38 of the heat source 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the second portion 14 is configured to be positioned on a second side 48 of the barrel 38 of the heat source 30, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The outer surface 16 of the pad 10 is configured to contact the heat source user 40, such as being held or gripped by or resting on the user 40. The inner surface 18 is configured to couple to an outer surface 50 of the barrel 38 of the heat source 30 such that the heat source user 40 is capable of holding the barrel 38 of the heat source 30 through contact with the outer surface 16. Although the embodiments disclosed herein describe and illustrate application and/or use of the pad 10 with or on a heat source 30, the pad 10 forms part of, or is utilized with or on, any other tool or object in additional embodiments.

As described above, the pad 10 of one or more embodiments includes the metal portion 28 or an otherwise rigid portion that clamps, grips, wraps, or otherwise partially or completely surrounds or compresses the barrel 38 or other portion of the heat source 30. The pad 10 is coupled to the heat source 30 in one or more embodiments with the assistance of a fastener, an adhesive, or any other joining method or structure known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The pad 10 is coupled to the heat source 30 in one or more embodiments by being integrally formed with the heat source 30, including being molded or formed into or onto the barrel 38 of the heat gun 34 in one non-limiting example. The metal portion 28 couples to the heat source 30 by compression or clamping of the pad 10 and without the assistance of a fastener, an adhesive, or any other joining method or structure known to a person having ordinary skill in the art in an embodiment. As described above, the metal portion 28 further allows the user 40 to couple the pad 10 and/or the heat source 30 having the pad 10 to a magnetic surface (not shown), thereby improving accessibility. The magnetic surface is a horizontally-extending, a vertically-extending, an upward-facing surface, and/or a downward-facing surface in one or more embodiments.

The pad 10 is soft in an embodiment. The pad 10 is flexible in an embodiment. The pad 10 includes one or more grips or is made from a material, such as an elastomeric foam in one non-limiting embodiment, that is compliant, soft, and/or resilient such that the user 40 may easily hold, grasp, or otherwise secure the heat source 30 with knees, legs, arms, or hands of the user 40 in particular non-limiting examples. Further, the pad 10 provides one or more grips or spacing portions configured to reduce the likelihood that the heat source 30 will slip or otherwise move unintentionally when positioned on a surface.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using a heat source 30 is provided. The method includes providing the heat source 30 having the handle 36, the barrel 38, and the pad 10 on or adjacent the barrel 38. The method further includes gripping the handle 36 of the heat source 30 such that heat is directed by the user 40 from the barrel 38 toward the work surface 42. The method further includes drawing air into the heat source 30 through the air intake 44 or allowing the heat source 30 to draw air into the heat source 30 through the air intake 44. As explained above, the pad 10 is configured to be spaced from the air intake 44 to minimize, reduce, or prevent restriction to airflow into the air intake 44.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the method further includes positioning the barrel 38 against a surface of the user 40 such that the pad 10 on the barrel 38 contacts the surface of the user 40. In one or more embodiments, the heat source 30 is activated or operating and producing heat while the barrel 38 is positioned against the surface of the user 40. In one or more embodiments, the heat source 30 is deactivated or not operating and not producing heat while the barrel 38 is positioned against the surface of the user 40.

Referring again to FIG. 3 with continuing reference to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 includes positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 within five seconds of the user 40 directing heat from the barrel 38 toward the work surface 42. In an embodiment, positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 includes positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 within three seconds of the user 40 directing heat from the barrel 38 toward the work surface 42. In an embodiment, positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 includes positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 within two seconds of the user 40 directing heat from the barrel 38 toward the work surface 42. In one embodiment, positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 includes positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 within ten seconds of the user 40 directing heat from the barrel 38 toward the work surface 42.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 includes holding the barrel 38 between knees 52 and/or legs 54 of the user 40. Positioning the barrel 38 against the surface of the user 40 includes, in additional embodiments, holding the barrel 38, with, on, or underneath an arm or hand of the user 40. In one or more embodiments, the surface of the user 40 includes skin of the user 40 or clothing or other flexible covering that is attached to or being worn by the user 40.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide the pad 10, the heat source 30, and the method of using the heat source 30 that allow a user 40, installer, or other person to more quickly, easily, and effectively contact or hold the heat source 30 and/or provide heat to the work surface 42, such as a sheet material being worked onto a substrate in one non-limiting example. In such an example, the user 40 may secure the heat source 30 between the user legs or otherwise against the user's body while the user 40 continues working. The user 40 may then quickly and easily access the heat source 30 to effectively provide heat to the work surface 42 with minimal time, energy, and material loss.

Having shown and described particular embodiments of the disclosure, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described disclosure and still be within the scope of the claimed disclosure. Thus, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed disclosure. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the disclosure only as indicated by the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat source pad comprising: a first portion configured to be positioned on a first side of a barrel of a heat source; a second portion configured to be positioned on a second side of the barrel of the heat source; an outer surface being configured to contact a heat source user; and an inner surface being configured to couple to an outer surface of the barrel of the heat source such that the heat source user holds the barrel of the heat source through contact with the outer surface.
 2. The heat source pad of claim 1, wherein the heat source is configured to draw air into the heat source through an air intake, the heat source pad configured to be spaced from the air intake.
 3. The heat source pad of claim 1, further comprising a central portion having a central portion width less than a first portion width and a second portion width.
 4. The heat source pad of claim 1, wherein the heat source pad comprises a material having a thermal conductivity between 0.005 and 2 watts per meter kelvin.
 5. The heat source pad of claim 1, wherein the heat source pad includes a formed metal strip.
 6. The heat source pad of claim 1, wherein the heat source pad includes a foam encapsulated formed metal strip.
 7. A heat source for directing heat to a work surface, the heat source comprising: a handle; a barrel; an air intake through which air enters the barrel; and a pad disposed on the barrel and spaced from the air intake.
 8. The heat source of claim 7, wherein the pad is configured to contact a surface of a heat source user.
 9. The heat source of claim 7, wherein the pad includes a material having a thermal conductivity between 0.005 and 2 watts per meter kelvin.
 10. The heat source of claim 7, wherein the pad includes a formed metal strip.
 11. The heat source of claim 7, wherein the heat source pad includes a foam encapsulated formed metal strip.
 12. A method of using a heat source, the method comprising: providing a heat source having a handle, a barrel, and a pad on the barrel; gripping the handle of the heat source such that heat is directed by a user from the barrel toward a work surface; and positioning the barrel against a surface of the user such that the pad on the barrel contacts the surface of the user.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein positioning the barrel against the surface of the user includes positioning the barrel against the surface of the user within five seconds of the user directing heat from the barrel toward the work surface.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein positioning the barrel against the surface of the user includes holding the barrel between legs of the user.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the pad includes a metal portion.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing the heat source to a magnetic surface with the metal portion of the pad.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnetic surface is a vertically-extending magnetic surface.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the metal portion includes a foam encapsulated formed metal strip.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the pad includes a material having a thermal conductivity between 0.005 and 2 watts per meter kelvin.
 20. The method of claim 12, further comprising drawing air into the heat source through an air intake, wherein the pad is spaced from the air intake. 